[x0x0]

I help manage an apartment building.

There's always the chance there's something wrong on your reports. You should get your own credit reports directly from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion; this will cost you $30-ish in CA. Make sure the reports include FICO scores, and don't settle for any non-fico nonsense (eg CreditKarma or any such competitors). For future applications, you may be able to re-use those reports for a month. It never hurts to ask.

As for us, our algorithm (at least in part to avoid illegal discrimination) is simple: we drop anyone with bad credit (maybe a small medical collection is ok, but nothing else), then sort by income descending.

The other possibility is you're giving off a difficult tenant vibe. It's hard to explain in words, but after a while, I think you get a sense of who's going to be a pita. So things like asking about apartment rules (eg no smoking, how many pets, etc) is fine; asking for exceptions to those rules can go either way. It really depends how you ask.

[Broken_Hippo]

Didn't they pass a law some years back allowing folks to get their credit report (from the major companies) once a year? In addition, isn't it law that they send a letter after taking negative action based on the credit report - because people are entitled to it then as well?

If this is the case, that fee won't be there.

[x0x0]

Free credit reports don't include FICO scores, and come with various other drawbacks, such as a lengthened time for the CRAs to respond to disputes.

The CRAs don't send a letter after negative action, the company who chose to grant or not grant credit does. You are entitled to a free report; however, it can be a pain to get when the company from whom you requested credit is small.

[Broken_Hippo]

Ah, ok. Well, in that case, it is only a half-good law and not really helpful. Thanks for filling in the details for me.

[nassir]

In my opinion, bad credit does not always imply the person is irresponsible or incapable of paying their debt. Landlord subjectivity is hurting some genuinely good people who would make responsible tenants.